Spring MEU deployment marks new era for MV-22

[unhappycamper]

Spring MEU deployment marks new era for MV-22
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 9, 2009 12:46:49 EST

FORK UNION, Va. — The winter night was colder than Chesty Puller eyeing an enemy in a foxhole, but there was work to be done.

Two insurgent leaders were expected to meet Jan. 14 on an open green at Fork Union Military Academy. A reconnaissance team with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit was ready, a sniper in position on the roof of a school building awaiting the order to take out the enemy.

A single shot exploded through the night, echoing across the academy’s campus and signaling a successful kill. A team of eight Marines burst onto the central Virginia school’s quad from their concealed position, students gawking from their dorm windows as Marines in full battle rattle swarmed a pitch-dark soccer field for aerial extraction.

In years past, it likely would have been a CH-46 Sea Knight that picked up the Marines during the Realistic Urban Training exercise. This time, though, an MV-22 Osprey glided in, green lights illuminating its tiltrotors, as neighbors pointed and gasped. In the blink of an eye, the Marines boarded in the middle of suburbia, and the aircraft disappeared into the night.

The exercise, conducted while the 22nd MEU was training in January at Fort Pickett, Va., signals a turning point in Marine history.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_osprey_020909w/%2e

[Fabio]

1. Like most folks

I have concerns about Osprey's survivability, self defense capability, and lack of truly natural armed escort -- nonetheless, it's great to hear the capability is on line. And, if used appropriately, it can be a safe and revolutionary platform for us.